Sony cuts Japanese retail price for PlayStation Vita game console

TOKYO, Feb. 18 (Kyodo) — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said Monday it will lower the Japanese retail price of its PlayStation Vita game console from Feb. 28.

The prices of the 3G/Wi-Fi model and Wi-Fi model, which are currently available at 29,980 yen and 24,980 yen, respectively, will be both reduced to 19,980 yen, Sony Corp.'s gaming unit said.

A company official declined to comment on the possibility of lowering the retail price for overseas markets.

Launched in December 2011, PlayStation Vita sold estimated 674,365 units in 2012 in the Japanese market, according to game magazine publisher Enterbrain Inc. Its sales lag behind Nintendo Co.'s 3DS portable game console, which sold an estimated 5.63 million units last year.

Earlier this month, Sony cut its annual sales outlook for portable game consoles including the PlayStation Vita by 3 million units to 7 million.